Markwood expected to join Vermont men’s basketball staff

Chris Markwood, who has spent seven of the last eight years with the University of Maine men’s basketball program as a player and an assistant coach, is moving on.

According to published reports, the former South Portland High School standout has accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Vermont, one of UMaine’s America East rivals.

Markwood declined to comment on his situation Thursday, presumably because his hire has not been announced by the Vermont athletic department.

UMaine head coach Ted Woodward explained he could not discuss the specifics of Markwood’s situation, but said he is no longer a member of the UMaine coaching staff.

“Chris is an outstanding young coach and when you do the things that he’s done, opportunities are going to come your way,” Woodward said. “He’s been an integral part of our program for many years and we appreciate everything he’s done here.”

Woodward said Markwood received what he termed an attractive (financial) offer, while the new position also is expected to elevate Markwood’s coaching status.

At Vermont, Markwood will be working with John Becker, who was announced as the Catamounts’ new head coach on May 20. Becker had been at UVM as an assistant for five seasons.

At UMaine, Markwood served as the primary coach of the point guards and also worked with the wings.

“He’s been great through everything he’s done here,” Woodward said. “He’s a good young coach and a guy who’s going to continue to be very marketable in this profession as long as he wants to do it.”

One Internet report of Markwood’s departure suggested a possible rift between him and Woodward had led to his taking the UVM job.

“There’s absolutely nothing to it,” said Woodward, who is confident the two had a good working relationship and that Markwood would confirm that assertion.

Markwood has been a high-profile figure in Maine basketball since his days at South Portland, where he was name the 2000 Maine Gatorade Player of the Year.

He scored 1,083 points for the Red Riots before accepting a basketball scholarship at Notre Dame. Markwood, who was a defensive standout, spent two seasons there before transferring to UMaine.

He played in 45 games for the Black Bears from 2003-05, averaging 6.7 points and 3.0 assists. He served as a team captain as a senior and led the team in assists (3.7 per game) that season.

Hampden’s Perry playing in N.Y.

Brennan Perry of the University of Southern Maine in Gorham will be spending much of his summer in New York.

Perry, a 6-foot-3 lefthanded pitcher, is playing for the Glens Falls Eagles of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

Perry, who will be a junior for coach Ed Flaherty next season, was 1-1 with a 5.28 earned run average in 12 appearances this spring at USM. He struck out 27 in 29 innings.

Perry is expected to be a reliever and spot starter for coach John Mayotte at Glens Falls.

USM teammate Anthony Pisani, a shortstop, also is playing for the Eagles this summer.